Fire ban lifted, but please delay non-essential burning
• The Total Fire Ban has been lifted. All the Waikato region is now in Open Fire Season except for the Thames/Coromandel district which in in a Restricted Fire Season.
• The Open Fire Season now in place means that you can light fires in the open as long as they are safe and will not get out of control.
• However, Fire & Emergency NZ (Waikato) asks that you delay lighting non-essential fires until after we reach Level 2 of the current lockdown. This will avoid putting staff and volunteers at unnecessary risk of Covid-19 infection.
• If your fire will be large and may attract public attention with consequent 111 calls, please first inform the Fire Communication Centre ph. 09 486 7948 to reduce unnecessary Fire Brigade callouts.
• The Thames Coromandel District has been moved to a Restricted Fire Season, meaning that Fire Permits are required there before lighting outdoor fires.
• For more information, contact Paul Shaw, Principal Rural Fire Officer – Waikato Rural ph.: 027 284 8636 paul.shaw@fireandemergency.nz
Poll: Are you a Te Huia fan?
All three Hamilton MPs appear to be united behind the retention of the Te Huia passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland, as well as potentially expanding it to Tauranga.
But whether Hamilton East’s Ryan Hamilton, Hamilton West’s Tama Potaka and soon-to-be Labour list MP Georgie Dansey have the combined power to shunt transport minister Chris Bishop and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon onto their line of thinking remains to be seen.
Are you a Te Huia fan? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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80.6% Yes
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19.4% No
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.2% Human-centred experience and communication
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15% Critical thinking
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29.9% Resilience and adaptability
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2.9% Other - I will share below!
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